2018 SHSAT Crash Course

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Tick…Tock…

Believe it or not, the October SHSAT is right around the corner, and the time to start prepping is now! As you may already know, getting into a specialized high school is extremely competitive, and so there is no time to waste.

Our SHSAT Crash Course

This course is fast-paced and designed for all 8th grade students who have demonstrated academic excellence during the school year and will be taking the SHSAT in October of 2018 in order to seek admission into a specialized high school.

*Students who have taken our 16-week prep course in the spring, as well as those who have not, are encouraged to join our crash course to refine, enhance, and further master the concepts and skills they’ve learned in time for test-day.

Who can take the SHSAT Exam?

Students in grades 8 or 9 who wish to apply to New York City’s Specialized High Schools must take the SHSAT and rank their choices of schools in order of preference.

What should I expect on the 2018 exam?

The 2018 SHSAT consists of a timed multiple-choice test with two sections: English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. A total time of 3 hours is allotted.

2017 -2018 SHSAT Changes The SHSAT was changed in order to better align it to curriculum and instruction students experience in their classrooms on a daily basis. The verbal section was renamed the English Language Arts (ELA) section, and no longer includes “scrambled paragraphs” or logical reasoning questions. This section now includes questions that address revising/editing skills, in addition to continuing to have reading comprehension passages and questions. Furthermore, the math section now includes five “grid-in” questions in addition to the multiple choice questions. All multiple choice questions now have four answer choices, instead of five, and the time allotted for test-takers has increased from 150 minutes (2.5 hours) to 180 minutes (3 hours).

ELA

The ELA section includes questions that address revising/editing skills and informational reading comprehension passages. However, in the upcoming October 2018 SHSAT, there will also be literature and poetry reading comprehension passages for students to tackle.

The program is taught by our highly qualified and experienced instructors who specialize in the SHSAT. Parents will have the opportunity to meet with their child’s instructor to discuss progress.

Small class size

Classes will be capped at 16 students in order to maximize delivery of educational material.

Test-taking strategies

Instructors will teach students specific study techniques and strategies that will raise test scores and maximize study time.

Full-length SHSAT practice exams

Full-length SHSAT assessments will be administered at the beginning, middle, and end of the program. Exams will be analyzed and reviewed thoroughly with students. Parents will receive an analysis report of their child’s test results.

Post-test workshops

Students will have time to review practice test questions, quizzes, homework, and/or other areas of concern.

Which NYC High Schools require the SHSAT?

Students in grades 8 or 9 who wish to apply to New York City’s Specialized High Schools must take the SHSAT and rank the following Specialized High Schools in order of preference:

The only exception is the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, which requires an audition or portfolio for admission in addition to the SHSAT exam.

Meet the instructors

Ms. Ourania

Ms. Ourania graduated as class Salutatorian in high school, receiving top honors in all subjects, and went on to New York University (NYU) with a full scholarship. There she pursued her Bachelor’s degree in Biology, with minors in Chemistry and Child & Adolescent Mental Health. Currently, she is pursuing her Master’s degree in Neuroscience & Education at Teacher’s College, Columbia University.

Ms. Ourania works with students of all grade levels, subjects, and capabilities. She has been teaching the Biology, Chemistry, Algebra I & II, and Geometry regents since 2010 and is the lead science and math instructor at Tip-Top Brain. Ms. Ourania believes that building rapport with her students is a crucial first step in getting students motivated to learn, “When your student feels comfortable with you, they want to be here and they want to ask questions. We joke, we talk, and most importantly, we work together. This is when learning takes place.”

Register Today!

Making the difference.

Our highly-qualified instructors design, not just assign, rigorous instructional material carefully aligned with the NEW SHSAT and instill an authentic understanding of the content tested on this specialized test. Through a mixture of high-quality instruction, reasonable homework assignments, weekly quizzes, and mock testing, our program is here to help your child feel ready on exam day.

About Us

Here at Tip-Top Brain, we believe that every student has the natural ability to learn if given the opportunity to receive a quality education. With a safe, supportive, and positive classroom environment and upbeat, intelligent, and compassionate instructors to guide students throughout their educational journeys, we believe that all students can discover and unlock their fullest potential.